Goodman tackels Ironman British Columbia

A race report by TT client Eric Goodman:

Whistler BC Race Report:

I can not say enough about having a beautiful venue to run an Ironman. I've done 70.3 races in St Croix, New Orleans, and New York. Having scenery around you while punishing yourself on each leg of the race eases the mind and let's you center and focus on the task.

So going to Whistler BC for my first ironman was no exception. I had been to Whistler many times in my life but never in the non-winter months. The glacier covered mountain backdrops with blue crystal lakes, evergreen forests, moon sets and sun rises over the mountains and clear night starlit skies make this place perfect for Ironman.

My week started with morning swims in a clear mountain lake with mountain vistas on all sides. Lateral breathing is not just for evening out your swim stroke but to gaze at the views with every stroke. I felt myself taking longer strokes with deeper breaths so I could stare at massive grey monoliths touching sky so blue it makes you understand life.

After the enlightening swims I drove the bike course only to realize I was in for some serious suffering. The race guide said 4300 ft of elevation. But that's more like listening to Eneas when he maps out a 100k....basically double it. That was the major problem I saw as I put in my climbing on the bike - so I thought. What caught my attention while driving the course was the first 11k was at 10% grade...yes sustained no down until the turn.

Then on the way out to Pemberton BC there are nice rolling 10% grades with a long downhill which ended on a 40k flat out and back. No worries as I got this, just have to get to the turn after the flat.

As I got to the bottom of the downhill from the way out I realized I would have to climb this starting at 150k into the bike ride....oh no !! 20k of 8-10% sustained...yes when I got to what I thought was a downhill ( it looked like downhill while riding) I looked at my Garmin and it was 3-4% grades....so my rests in a 20k climb was at 3-4%...

Note to Target Training clients. The next time you think Eneas is trying to kill you on a class with rests on a grade. Do your self a favor and -Go Harder! You might have a course like Whistler someday.

Back to the race report....so I see the swim, the bike, but the run is on a trail through the valley and I've been in PT for 6 weeks and not running for two months so I do not check out the run. I figure I'm walking it anyway. Hell I've never done a marathon in my life what makes me think I can run one after a 112 bike ride.

Race morning comes and it's 48degrees and water temps are 66. Lovely...

I chose to stay back in the pack as I've never done a 3000 person mass start. This was a good idea and a bad idea. I got stuck behind slow swimmers and incompetent swimmers...I mean incompetent due to them needing a line on the bottom to swim straight !!! I almost punched a guy twice for him thinking he was going to win something but swam a 2min 100yd pace....he needed a reality check that my fist almost delivered. That was the bad. The good was that being behind kept me in check and allowed me to conserve some energy.

So after the swim, the transition was causal...I was completing the race, not competing in the race. So out on the bike for a 6k downhill at 10% nice...right to a 11k 10% uphill and reverse it...nice warmup for what was coming. I need a compact...I need a compact...I chanted to myself.

The downhill out to the flat was incredible as I hit 50+ mph blocking out that I'd have to climb this on the way back. On to the flat with a slight headwind so easy gear spinning for the next 30 mins and a nice pace back with a tail wind.  Then I remembered....the hill....ok pull over at aide station, remove a water bottle, eat, drink, relieve myself ( hey anything to lighten up my bike) and then go for the next 20k. I'm glad I took the break because there was no way to stop until you were at the top. Ok done...now for the run...or walk

Here is where things surprised me. As many of you know I injured my self two months ago and have been in PT for my leg. So my longest run was 13 miles before June and I hadn't run for two months. So the marathon was a planned walk. To my surprise I started running, and kept running. I thought to myself -hey lets see how far I can do this as it will reduce my walk time.

I kept running, and running, and got to mile 12 before ......my calf cramped, knotted, oh it's back...walking. I walked to the special needs bag. Popped two Advil and walked. As I got to the next aide station I could finally swallow the Advil and talk to my wife ....who was proud I made it that far...but I saw it in her eyes...."suck it up butthead (not actual name as in PGed it) you're in an ironman."

So I started to run on my calf. It hurt, it really hurt. Then for some reason whether the Advil or it just being so fatigued it couldn't cramp the knot, it released and I started RUNNING....Run Forest Ruuuunnnn!!!

I figured I could not stop running or it would be the end....so I just kept running...amazing how many people you pass on the second half of the marathon if you're the only one running...

At mile 25 my legs were on fire....but I could here the announcements for each finisher -" you are an Ironman!"...so I ran faster....legs, what legs ....

Coming down the finishing shoot with all of the crowds, cheers, announcements is a feeling you really can't describe, you just have to do it....

Now my times weren't great but they were steady and I didn't need help at the finish. I was relaxed and grabbed my bags and bike and walked 1m uphill to my condo....did I mention there are hills here? Anyway, an experience I won't forget....or at least until I do one faster....haha...